Postgraduate accommodation - Glasgow University

Hey Caliente,

A couple weeks back I took tours of both residences. Aesthetically speaking, the Queen Margaret residences looks nicer and slightly more modern. With far more splashes of colour and sleeker designs it doesn't look quite as drab as Kelvinhaugh Gate. Unfortunately, Queen Margaret is some distance from the main campus, roughly a 20 minute walk whereas Kelvin is only about a 10 minute walk. Kelvin is closer to alot of shops, but Queen Margaret is nestled away in a quiet residential area. Queen Margaret also contains a "social area" where students can gather and congregate to chat or take in a football, cricket, or ... hockey game! Kelvin does not have this.

I recently accepted my offer for accommodation at Kelvinhaugh Gate, a main reason being that my co-worker's sister lived there last year while in Glasgow and loved it.

Best of luck in making your decision!

Reply 2

caliente

OP

Thank you very much for your help! I wish i had the same chance to take a tour of the residences. To be honest i don't really mind about the distance. However , the shops or pubs that are closer to Kelvinhaugh gate is a good motive to go there. In addition i think is closer to city center while QM is closer to West End(or am I wrong?).

Thanks again for your help!!

Reply 3

Hey,

I travelled quite a distance for my visit of the university, and it was well worth it. Kelvinhaugh's proximity to the city centre is a bit closer than QM. Kelvinhaugh is very close to Argyle and Sauchiehall streets which are quite busy and are lined with numerous shops, pubs and restaurants.

I am more than happy to help, If you have any further questions just ask away! or you can private message me.

Ciao!

Reply 4

Nadia_B

sammytheman

Hey,

I travelled quite a distance for my visit of the university, and it was well worth it. Kelvinhaugh's proximity to the city centre is a bit closer than QM. Kelvinhaugh is very close to Argyle and Sauchiehall streets which are quite busy and are lined with numerous shops, pubs and restaurants.

I am more than happy to help, If you have any further questions just ask away! or you can private message me.

Ciao!

Hi Sammy!

From your postings I got it that you have visited the campus and I was wondering if you have any idea which dorm is the most popular among the grad students?

Reply 5

Nadia_B

Hi Sammy!

From your postings I got it that you have visited the campus and I was wondering if you have any idea which dorm is the most popular among the grad students?

Nadia,

I dropped by the city/campus in the last week of March. From what I've been told Kelvinhaugh Gate is populated by later year undergrads and postgrad students, so I would imagine the environment would be more conducive for quiet nights and studying.

Then again QM has separate blocks set aside for undergraduates and postgraduates. Although the majority of people in QM are undergrads.

The reasons I chose Kelvinhaugh are...1) Rooms looked rather spacious, 2) It is only a 10 min walk to campus, 3) Very close to shops, pubs, restaurants, 3) Predominantly older students.

Hope this helps!

Reply 6

Nadia_B

Sammy,

That was really helpful and it sounds like exactly what I need for my first choice.

Thank you very much for your opinion!

How long ago did you fill out the housing application?

Reply 7

No prob, anything to help.

The application doesnt take very long at all. I think i had gone through the entire thing in 5 - 10 mins!

It's done completely online. It's a relief to know my accommidation is all taken care of!

Reply 8

If you don't know anyone in the city, then you're flung in with dozens of like-minded individuals, i.e. more postgrads. Its a good way to meet folk, and the Uni are (usually) prompt at fixing things, your bills are taken care of, no arguing over who owes what with the flatmates, and no chance of a dodgy landlord. If the neighbours are noisy it can take months to get an asbo, or five minutes to get the warden to shut them up. Plenty of advantages, but yes, it does cost more.

Reply 9

ailuros

1

I'll be looking for private accommodation near the Faculty of Education; could someone tell me the local area names I should be searching under online? (Durham examples would be the Viaduct, Gilesgate etc.) Any advice on each would also be welcome. Thanks in advance for any help!

Reply 10

ailuros

I'll be looking for private accommodation near the Faculty of Education; could someone tell me the local area names I should be searching under online? (Durham examples would be the Viaduct, Gilesgate etc.) Any advice on each would also be welcome. Thanks in advance for any help!

The new Unite Gibson Street apartments are extortionate (£450 a month or thereabouts, although they do include bills/internet), but they cannot be more than 40 yards from the front door of the faculty of education. Anywhere on Bank St, Gibson St or the Woodlands area would be within a five minute walk of the building.

Reply 11

ailuros

1

Thanks!

Reply 12

oracleapollo

4

Hey there,

I'm an international student and I got my masters at the University of Glasgow from 2006-2007. I lived in Kelvinhaugh Gate and I would recommend it. Its not perfect of course, but a lot of my friends lived in Queen Margaret and although its a nicer complex, its pretty far from the university and the shops. However, Q.M. is closer to Byres Road where there are 3 grocery stores, Boots for toiletries and things, and the main university subway stop is there as well. Its a fun street and occasionally we saw some scottish actors and footballers walking around with their families. There are also lots of cute coffee shops and one nightclub.

As for Kelvinhaugh Gate, its closer to Argyle street which isn't as nice as Byres, but its closer to the university and the Kelvingrove museum and park is lovely to walk through on your way to the university. I did Classics and Archaeology, so Kelvinhaugh Gate was closer to the Classics Dept., which helped me on the days I was running late. I also liked it when Glasgow had its nasty windy/rainy season..the less time walking outside when one's raincoat is slapping you in the face, the better.

The only thing I would be wary of in Kelvinhaugh is the laundry situation....there was only 1 laundry room with 5 washers and 5 dryers for the entire complex...it definitely got annoying. I think Q.M. is better from what I saw. Another issue was how thin the walls were. I think Q.M. was a little better for that as well.

So anyway, there are some pros and cons...hope this helps! I'd still choose Kelvinhaugh if I had to do it all over again. It helps not to worry about bills and such...just pay your accommodation fee and worry about your studies!

Reply 13

Oracleapollo,

Thanks for the heads up/tips.

Reply 14

crazy_like_innocent_fool

Hi

How is Maclay residence? I have got an offer for the same. :woo:

I have heard from someone that it is the new name for UNITE Cooperage Place?

I have also read in some posts that Maclay existed from a long time?

I'm really confused :confused:

. Please help.

Reply 15

crazy_like_innocent_fool

Hi

How is Maclay residence? I have got an offer for the same. :woo:

I have heard from someone that it is the new name for UNITE Cooperage Place?

I have also read in some posts that Maclay existed from a long time?

I'm really confused :confused:

. Please help.

They might have used the name Maclay before- but its in new accomodation, which was the old Cooperage. They've been selling off and buying accomodation for a number of years now, so its not impossible they had Maclay as a name for somewhere else in the past.

As for the accom, its pretty good- some rooms are reasonably large with a double bed, all are ensuite, the living area is decent enough. I don't think its worth the extra money over somewhere like Cairncross though.

Reply 16

crazy_like_innocent_fool

Thank you so much for this quick reply.

The room (in Maclay) is single en suite and does not have communal bathrooms (that means bathroom is attached with every room).

These are self-catering accommodation.

By the term "self catering" does it mean that we need to cook ourselves in the kitchen provided which is common between 3-5 rooms or is there any food available along with accommodation?

Any idea of how they allocate the other flat members? Do University allocates students of the same course together or do they prefer to keep mixed students?

Reply 17

crazy_like_innocent_fool

Thank you so much for this quick reply.

The room (in Maclay) is single en suite and does not have communal bathrooms (that means bathroom is attached with every room).

These are self-catering accommodation.

By the term "self catering" does it mean that we need to cook ourselves in the kitchen provided which is common between 3-5 rooms or is there any food available along with accommodation?

Any idea of how they allocate the other flat members? Do University allocates students of the same course together or do they prefer to keep mixed students?

The bathroom is pretty small though- and all it really achieves is to make the rest of your room smaller. I'd go with the communal ones if I were you. No idea on the allocations, I think they'll try and go with interests etc, but thats not always successful. As for food, there is cooking facilities (fridge/freezer, hob/oven, microwave, kettle/toaster), but you'll have to factor in the cost of food yourself. It can be done for £40 a week easily enough.

Reply 18

fishbaobao

Similar problem as crazy_like_innocent_fool's

I can not make a decision between KG and Maclay, I know that Maclay is new for residence, who can tell me the differences between KG and Maclay on student culture, shops and transport, outclass activity and so on. Besides I am a student in Urban Study Department on policy study, which residence seems to be more suitable for me? Many thanx for help^^

Reply 19